Small Grants Programme (SGP) Project in Chile was awarded the Sello Bicentenario" by President Bachelet

On October 7th 2009, at the presidential palace "La Moneda", Chile´s President Michele Bachelet awarded 9 projects with the Sello Bicentenario Award. Over one hundred attendees were present at the award-wining ceremony, where María Contreras spoke on behalf of the winner, "Naturaleza Viva Center", executing agent of the project "Recovery in degraded land area of Villa Francia". This Project funded by the SGP/GEF Chile from 2006 to 2009, was also co-funded by CONAMA and other funds such as "Presidente de la República". During the ceremony, María Contreras, from the Project "Participatory Approach for urban area recovery in Villa Francia" pointed out, deeply touched: "we never thought our contribution to the Bicentenary of our beloved Chile would be recognized with such award from the highest Authority in our country".

President Bachelet, in relation to communities work present in these initiatives, emphasized that they are a "fundamental contribution to advance towards the Chile we are dreaming of and we are trying hard to build".

The 9 winners were selected from over 100 eligible candidates for the "Sello Bicentenario".

In this picture: Representatives from the SGP Project "Naturaleza Viva" next to President Bachelet, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Enrique Ganuza, and National Coordinator for the SGP Chile, Mrs. Alejandra Alarcón